ST. LOUIS, MO (March 4, 2012) – This past Saturday night’s round nine of the 2012 AMA/FIM Supercross Series at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO, was a turning point for Team Yoshimura Suzuki. Australian Brett Metcalfe overcame some recent struggles to put in a steadfast ride on his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, which bodes well for the remainder of the 2012 season. Additionally, a record-breaking crowd of almost 60,000 was on hand to cheer on the Yoshimura Suzuki rider to his eighth-place finish.

This weekend’s race started slowly for the Yoshimura Suzuki team. During the first two practice sessions, Metcalfe turned in some solid laps but, in the process, tweaked his leg along the way. Fortunately, he was still able to make some real progress with the Yoshimura Suzuki MR-Z450 before race time.

“This track suits me,” said Metcalfe. “The dirt’s really tacky and gets nice ruts, and it’s tight and pretty technical. In the last practice, we made a change with the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, and I started to feel comfortable, and get a good flow and be at one with the bike. I really want to thank the Yoshimura Suzuki team for getting me that.”

At the onset of the evening’s racing, Metcalfe’s leg was still bothering him and he was forced to sit out the opening ceremonies. Despite this, Metcalfe managed to get the holeshot in his eight-lap heat race, lead the first few laps and finish fourth. In the 20-lap main event, Metcalfe again got a good start on his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 and brought home a top-10 result.

“We got the holeshot in the heat race and that was a good start for us,” said Metcalfe. “I rode solid and got a fourth, and I was happy that I was riding well. In the main event, I got a good start but then I got pushed wide and got hung up a little bit. But I was in a good flow and in race mode, more so than I’ve been all year. We only got an eighth and we’re working on improving those results, but I think this weekend was a turning point for my season.”

As the series’ East Coast rounds continue, Metcalfe is feeling comfortable and confident on the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450. As a result, the Australian is counting down the days until next weekend’s race in Florida.

“Daytona is always tough, physically and mentally,” said Metcalfe. “It’s more of an Outdoor track but still with some gnarly Supercross obstacles. It’s going to be tough, but I’m just really stoked with where the Suzuki’s at right now and the feeling I have with the RM-Z450. I’m looking forward to a good week and being strong at Daytona and improving on the results we’ve been picking off.”

Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s next event is the 10th round of the 2012 AMA/FIM Supercross Championship on Saturday, March 10th, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit, and quality that have been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.

About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans.

SUZUKI SOCIAL

For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing when riding any motorcycle or ATV. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Study your owner's manual and always inspect your Suzuki before riding. Take a riding skills course. For the MSF street course nearest you, call 1-800-446-9227. Off-road riders can enroll in the DirtBike SchoolSM by calling 1-877-288-7093. ATV riders can call the SVIA at 1-800-852-5344 and we’ll even pay for the training. Suzuki engineered the GSX-Rs™, Hayabusa, and the QuadSport Z400 for experienced riders.

Specifications, appearances, equipment, color, features, materials and other items of “SUZUKI” products shown are subject to change by manufacturer at any time without notice.